National Tequila Day fell on Friday, July 24, 2026, and the major offers at Chili’s and Applebee’s were discounts rather than outright freebies. Chili’s advertised margaritas starting at $5 for the occasion, while Applebee’s served its $1 DOLLARITA throughout July. The closest thing to a free drink was Jose Cuervo’s separate receipt-reimbursement promotion, which was available only while supplies lasted.
Because July 24 has passed, the one-day restaurant promotions described here are no longer active. Applebee’s July-long offer may still provide savings through July 31 at participating restaurants, but customers must be 21 or older, dine in, and account for tax and gratuity. Mexico’s 2026 federal decree formally designated July 24 each year as Día Nacional del Tequila, replacing the previous third-Saturday-in-March designation. That made Friday, July 24, the official date in 2026, although restaurant participation and local alcohol availability still varied.
Table of Contents
- What National Tequila Day 2026 Freebies and Deals Did Chili’s and Applebee’s Offer?
- Applebee’s $1 DOLLARITA Eligibility and Hidden Costs
- Chuy’s, Abuelo’s, and Margaritas Mexican Restaurant Deals
- How to Compare Margarita Deals Without Overspending
- Why “Freebies” Overstates the 2026 Restaurant Offers
- Pluckers’ Food-and-Drink Anniversary Special
- Legal Availability, Location Rules, and Responsible Planning
- Frequently Asked Questions
What National Tequila Day 2026 Freebies and Deals Did Chili’s and Applebee’s Offer?
Chili’s advertised three National Tequila Day prices: a $5 Tequila Classic Marg, a $7 Patrón Frozen Marg, and its $6 July Margarita of the Month. The July drink was the Bombshell Marg, made with premium tequila, triple sec, Monin Dragonfruit, strawberry purée, and house-made sour. The Chili’s promotion was time-limited. Its live Specials page no longer displayed the National Tequila Day block when checked on July 26, so diners should not expect the July 24 pricing to remain available.
Chili’s also notes that menu availability varies by location. Applebee’s took a different approach. Its DOLLARITA cost $1 all day, every day during July, rather than being a National Tequila Day-only deal. The drink contains tequila, triple sec, and lime, making it much cheaper than Chili’s $5 entry-level holiday margarita, but only for customers dining inside a participating Applebee’s.
Applebee’s $1 DOLLARITA Eligibility and Hidden Costs
Applebee’s limited the dollarITA promotion to customers age 21 or older, and the offer was valid for dine-in orders only. It was void where prohibited, available while supplies lasted, and subject to varying participation among restaurants. A location could therefore decline to offer it even though the national promotion continued through July. The advertised dollar price excluded tax and gratuity.
For example, ordering two DOLLARITAS creates a $2 menu subtotal, but the actual cost is higher after tax and an appropriate tip. Buying food alongside the drinks can also turn a low-cost promotion into a much larger restaurant bill. The $1 price may encourage ordering more than planned, which is a poor trade if the goal is saving money. Setting a total dining budget before arriving—including food, drinks, tax, tip, and transportation—provides a more realistic measure of whether the promotion reduces spending.
Chuy’s, Abuelo’s, and Margaritas Mexican Restaurant Deals
Chuy’s offered all-day, dine-in-only specials on July 24. Famous Rocks or Frozen ‘Ritas cost $6, Grande versions cost $9, and top-shelf tequila shots were $5. Its food special included $5 bowls of Queso, Queso Compuesto, Lil’ Chuy Gooey, or Boom Boom Pow. A customer pairing a $6 Chuy’s margarita with a $5 queso bowl started with an $11 subtotal before tax and tip.
That was more expensive than buying only Applebee’s $1 drink, but it combined a drink discount with a reduced-price food item. The downside was that both Chuy’s offers required dining in. Abuelo’s sold select La Grandeza Margaritas for $5 in the regular size and $8 in the grande size on July 24 only. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant promoted $3 jumbo upgrades on Original and House Margaritas, $20 Clase Azul Margaritas, $10 Gran Centenario Cantaritos, and $6 shots of 1800 or Cuervo Tradicional. The jumbo upgrade was unavailable in Pennsylvania, and adding a flavor cost another $2.
How to Compare Margarita Deals Without Overspending
The lowest advertised price is not necessarily the cheapest outing. Applebee’s $1 DOLLARITA was the least expensive featured drink, but it required a dine-in visit. A customer who would otherwise stay home could spend substantially more after adding an entrée, transportation, tax, and a tip. Drink size and ingredients also affect comparisons.
At Chuy’s, moving from a $6 Famous ‘Rita to the $9 Grande added $3 to the menu price. At Chili’s, the $7 Patrón Frozen Marg cost $2 more than the $5 Tequila Classic Marg, while the fruit-flavored Bombshell Marg sat between them at $6. A practical method is to calculate the entire outing before choosing a restaurant. Compare the drink price, expected food order, tax, gratuity, parking or rideshare expense, and any upgrade charges. A $3 jumbo upgrade at Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, for example, became $5 when a flavor was added.
Why “Freebies” Overstates the 2026 Restaurant Offers
Neither Applebee’s nor Chili’s advertised a free National Tequila Day drink in the verified offers. Applebee’s sold a discounted $1 margarita, and Chili’s advertised drinks from $5 to $7. Chuy’s, Abuelo’s, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, and Pluckers also offered reduced prices rather than no-cost alcoholic drinks. Jose Cuervo supplied the only plausible free-drink angle through its “Expense a Margarita” receipt-reimbursement promotion.
Consumers could submit a receipt for reimbursement toward a Cuervo margarita while supplies lasted. This was not an instant restaurant freebie: participants first had to make a qualifying purchase and then complete the reimbursement process. The official promotion page available for review did not confirm an exact reimbursement cap, payout method, complete list of eligible states, or a July 24-only submission requirement. Those details should not be assumed from unofficial summaries. Customers also needed to verify the official terms and supply status before treating a purchase as reimbursable.
Pluckers’ Food-and-Drink Anniversary Special
Pluckers included July 24 in its 31st Anniversary Week, offering $5 fried cheese and $5 Frozen Regular-ritas. All anniversary-week specials were dine-in only, so takeout customers could not claim the promotional prices.
Ordering both specials produced a $10 menu subtotal before tax and tip. This pairing cost less than Chuy’s $11 margarita-and-queso example, although restaurant availability, serving sizes, and personal food preferences could make the cheaper subtotal a less useful comparison.
Legal Availability, Location Rules, and Responsible Planning
Alcohol promotions are limited to customers age 21 or older and remain subject to state and local law. Applebee’s expressly warned that participation could vary, and Chili’s stated that availability differed by location. Chuy’s and Pluckers specified dine-in service, while Margaritas Mexican Restaurant excluded Pennsylvania from its $3 jumbo upgrade.
Calling the restaurant before traveling can prevent a wasted trip, particularly for a location-dependent or one-day offer. Customers should ask whether the promotion is active, whether a food purchase is required, and whether upgrades or flavors cost extra. Abuelo’s, for example, limited its $5 regular and $8 grande prices to select La Grandeza Margaritas on July 24 and advised customers to drink responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was National Tequila Day in 2026?
National Tequila Day was Friday, July 24, 2026. Mexico’s 2026 federal decree designated July 24 each year as Día Nacional del Tequila.
Did Chili’s give away free margaritas?
No. Chili’s advertised a $5 Tequila Classic Marg, a $7 Patrón Frozen Marg, and a $6 Bombshell Marg. The holiday promotion was no longer displayed on its live Specials page when checked July 26.
Was Applebee’s DOLLARITA only available on National Tequila Day?
No. Applebee’s offered the $1 DOLLARITA all day, every day during July at participating locations. It was limited to customers age 21 or older and dine-in orders.
Which promotion could potentially reimburse the cost of a margarita?
Jose Cuervo’s “Expense a Margarita” promotion allowed consumers to submit a receipt for reimbursement toward a Cuervo margarita while supplies lasted. The official page reviewed did not confirm every cap, payment, location, or timing detail.
Do advertised drink prices include tax and gratuity?
Applebee’s expressly excluded tax and gratuity from its $1 price. Diners should generally budget separately for tax, tips, food, transportation, and paid upgrades.
